Purpose of Study:

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

Aims: The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

• develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
• build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
• critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook
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Intent:

At Grange Junior School DT is taught as a subject in its own right, following a clear progression to ensure skills, knowledge and understanding are built upon and secured across the key stage. DT is also used to support and enrich other areas of the curriculum, leading to high quality outcomes. Through DT children develop good behaviours for learning and essential skills for life.  DT fosters children’s creativity and evaluative skills.  They are taught to research current products available and evaluate how successful they are which in turn enables them to design, make and test a product that can be used in the wider world.  DT allows children to utilise skills leant now in later life and employment.

Implementation:

The DT long term plan ensures a coherent, broad and balanced curriculum is offered across the Key Stage. Units of work are planned, by the subject manager, often linking to other curriculum areas. A sequence of lessons build upon skills, knowledge and understanding. Staff development, informed by monitoring, ensures that teachers have good subject knowledge to enable them to deliver high quality lessons, leading to high quality outcomes.   DT comprises of 3 weekly blocks per year group, delivered in each term. 

Impact:

The DT subject manager carries out termly monitoring in the form of book scrutiny and pupil conferencing. This information is used to establish the effectiveness of planning, teaching and learning for that term and provides points for further professional development within the subject, either on an individual, cohort or whole school level. Pupils are provided with oral feedback throughout the project and teachers continually monitor progress and outcomes, adapting planning where necessary.   Children will receive final written feedback in DT books at the end of a unit of work, where children are assessed against the key skills, using the school’s agreed assessment for foundation subjects. Children have planned opportunities to share and celebrate their work with their families and a written report is provided annually.